Monday, 14 October 2013

Interview with Brewmaster Václav Berka of Pilsner Urquell

I specially
recommend this interview for people who work with selling beer in one form or
another. I believe there is something to learn from Václav and Pilsner Urquell.

While I was
doing a freelance job in Pilsen, Czech Republic to cover Pilsner Urquell's
171st anniversary, (05.10.2013) including the International Master Bartender competition. I suddenly got the opportunity to get a short interview with
Václav Berka the Trade Brewmaster of Pilsner Urquell. With very little time to
prepare and no cut-in clips recorded or other fancy stuff I did the interview
in a dark back alley in front of a restaurant, I decided to not edit it at all
cause I think the interview itself is good enough to be presented uncut. (Also I
don't have cut-in clips ;))

My friends and followers know I'm no lager boy, but I have to say that both the city of Pilsen
and Václav impressed me, those Czechs sure know how to brew a mean bottom
fermented beer, and best of them all were Pilsner Urquell Nefiltrovaný, the
unfiltered version of the beer already widely available all around the world. I tried
it in the basement under the brewery from the huge oak barrels, were it is less
bubbly and have a stronger diacetyl taste, a really cool atmospheric place to drink beer! I
also tried it from tap many places and that was really refreshing and good, mmm with a big fat head and
nice bitterness, some hops, full bodied and with some yeasty flavours. But the best version was the one I
tried from a small oak barrel at the after party of the event, and in this version some of the oak flavours actually came
through to the beer, probably unintentionally, but still really good. If you're
used to sometimes drinking a Norwegian industrial lager (Hansa/Ringnes and so
on) you're in for a surprise, a really good one if it’s served right! From
today and for the next couple of weeks this special version that usually is
only available in the Pilsen area will be available in Norway. (Dates may differ from pub to pub)

Václav Berka at the International Master Bartender finals.

Here is where you can buy Pilsner Urquell Nefiltrovaný (Unfiltered):

Cardinal, Skagen 21, Stavanger

Sørmarka Kurs &
Konferansesenter, Enebakkveien 625, Siggerud (Ski)

Nikkers Sport, Elvegata 18,
Lillehammer

Øl-torget & BRÜ Vulkan Pub in
Mathall, Maridalsveien 17 a, Oslo

Revolver, Møllergata 32, Oslo

Forest & Brown, Niels Juels gate
31, Oslo

Dr. Jekkyls Pub, Klingenberggate 4,
Oslo

Amundsen Brygghus, Stortingsgata 20,
Oslo

Schouskjelleren, Trondheimsveien 2,
Oslo

Beer palace, Holmens gate 3, Oslo

This
version of Pilsner Urquell is sold as a fresh beer and will only be available
for a very short time!